Another way to encourage reluctant writers or students who have difficulties getting started is to provide ideas on cue cards.  This is a little more detailed than the poster approach and guides them more specifically to the point where they may be able to "take the story and run with it".

These cards can be mixed up; that is, any "beginning' card can be used with any "middle" or any "end" card.

Beginnings:

1)  A woman (MC) is bored with her marriage.  Her husband (the problem) wants to control her free spirit (her special quality).  She goes to visit her brother in the big city, meets an adventurous young man and starts an affair.  Her fear is that her husband will find out, divorce her and take their son away from her.   (from Anna Karenina)

2)  A teenage boy's (MC) grandfather has died, his father is an alcoholic and his mother has left their horse ranch to become an actress in town.  The family is about to lose their property (the problem).  MC's fear is that he will lose the way of life that is precious and meaningful to him.  His special quality is that he knows everything about running a ranch. (from All the Pretty Horses)

3.  A lonely single woman (MC) takes a new job and suddenly two men are competing for her attention, one a shy, quiet, nice guy, the other not.  The problem is the "not nice" guy is her boss.  She is afraid she will lose this job which she desperately loves and needs.  Her special quality is her humor and sharp insights into other people.  (from Bridget Jones' Diary)

4.  A prairie farm is threatened by dangerous weather (tornado, flooding, blizzard) (problem).  A single parent (MC) is torn between going to get his/her children and bringing them home safely, and trying to save their livestock and equipment before the storm arrives.  Special quality:  he/she has taught the children how to protect themselves.

Middles:

1)  MC runs away from the problem, unable to cope.   But MC meets a friend who has lost what the MC is about to lose and this reminds the MC of what is really most important in his/her life.  MC realizes this is the core of his/her identity.  With a new ally, MC faces the problem.  But the problem has become much worse and it looks like MC will lose everything.

2.  The worsening problem threatens to divide MC from his/her loved ones, turning the loved ones against MC because of his/her actions or lack of actions.  A surprise element evolves:  a trusted friend or a loved one who always believed in MC also is turning against her/him.

3.  MC defies the problem and continues to go after what she/he personally wants.  A new person enters the story with bad news about a worsening problem.  It appears the MC's actions have harmed someone.  MC's reputation is called into question.  MC fears judgement is correct.

4.  A person from the past arrives with strange information and offers help/advice.  MC wants to accept help but suspects the person is on the side of the problem or has a special interest in the outcome.  MC must decide whether to accept or reject this person's aid.  MC discovers this person is making the problem worse.

Climax and Ends:

1.  MC is too overwhelmed and gives up, nearly broken.   The "fear source" (family, lover, friend) bands together or enlists other allies because they are so outraged that MC is quitting.  MC is ashamed then buoyed by their belief in MC's special quality.  MC gets angry at self and together with "fear source", everyone joins to fight the problem.  Through their solidarity, they are victorious against the problem.  Results in stronger bonds and commitments.

2.  Surprise angle:  friend or lover becomes a bigger problem than the original problem.  At first wounded and betrayed, MC suddenly understands why friend or lover is jealous of MC's special quality.  MC stands up for self, confronts the friend/lover and is able to defeat the original problem but must accept the loss of the friend/lover.  MC must live with a big compromise but is satisfied to have recovered important quality in self and has gained knowledge.

3.  The problem now threatens MC's life and future happiness.  The future does not seem to hold any promise.  The special quality now seems to be the only thing that MC can depend on for his/her "good" and reliable identity.  MC is enraged to be imprisoned by the situation, decides to play all her/his "aces" with special quality and fights the problem.  A weak point in the problem immediately gives hope to MC and relentlessly MC fights the problem, slowly overcoming it.  Others are now clearly aware of the special quality and award greater status to MC.

4.  Friend becomes more special, more central in MC's sense of happiness; or friend becomes lover, or lover is asked to become spouse.  At first this seems to reduce the problem but the worsening problem reminds MC that original fear cannot be diminished -- it must be taken care of.  Friend or lover may help, or worsen by stepping back in crucial moment.  MC must find strength to let friend/lover go (permanently or temporarily) to solve the problem.  Real climax is how MC will resolve the friend/lover's response to the crisis, part of which will indicate if friend/lover will MC to be himself/herself and retain some independence to make personal decisions in the future.